Achi news desk-
A proposal before Calgary councilors wants the provincial government to consider doubling fines for speeding through a playground or school zone across Alberta.
Account. Jasmine Mian tabled the motion to discuss the issue at an Alberta Municipalities conference in September. The province imposes speeding fines through its Traffic Safety Act.
“As a city councilman, I’m in my school districts a lot and safety is a very big concern,” Mian said Tuesday.
“I want to have a conversation with other municipalities to see if they think this is something we should take forward a little further.”
The proposal notes that other provinces, such as British Columbia and Ontario, have increased or doubled fines for speeding in playgrounds and schools.
Mian pointed to changes implemented by the Alberta government in recent years to double speeding fines when roadside or emergency workers are present.
Currently, speeding fines in Alberta start at $81 for drivers caught going at least one kilometer per hour over the posted speed limit and fines increase depending on speed.
The minimum speeding fine when roadside or emergency workers are present is $163.
“In fact, we want to have a conversation about all the fines in the Traffic Safety Act, not just speeding fines, and how can we make sure we really target them for safety?” said Mian.
If the council votes in favor of the councillor’s proposal, it would be forwarded to the Village of the Duchess to be seconded before being sent to Alberta Municipalities to advocate for the change.
